Nolensville mom out on bond; TBI still investigating

Nolensville mother Susan Swafford Smithburg, 52, whose son ran away from home, leading to a six-day search, was out of jail Thursday morning after posting a $100,000 bond.

She was arrested Wednesday on charges of child abuse and neglect.

“Her bond was made this morning, and she was released and is now back home with her family,” said attorney David Raybin, who is representing Smithburg in the case.

Detectives with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate the abuse case.

TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said investigators were still collecting interviews and evidence. He would not say who is being interviewed.

Although he said it was too soon to know whether additional charges would be filed, he acknowledged “that is a possibility.”

Christopher Smithburg, 16, left his house March 27 and went to some nearby property near the Williamson-Rutherford county line, where he set up camp for several days before he was seen by Rutherford County resident Jesse Williams on Tuesday.

On March 26, the teen made toast at the family home on Rocky Fork Road and then lied about it when questioned by his mother, said Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long. The mother told the son he had to do 1,500 pushups, Long said.

When the teenager could not complete them, police said, she slapped him and told him to finish the pushups the next day. But instead, he ran away from home.

Christopher, who was adopted from the Philippines years ago, was removed from his family’s home, as were a 17-year-old boy who also was adopted from the Philippines and a 10-year-old girl.